On April 23, the HDTC passed a resolution in support of Medicate for All

We urge you to sign the petition at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/hamden-needs-medicare-for-all

The full text of the resolution is:

Resolution in Support of the Medicare for All Act of 2019

WHEREAS, the number of Americans without health insurance is still nearly 30 million, while more than 40 million Americans remain underinsured; and

WHEREAS, every person in Hamden deserves high quality health care; and

WHEREAS, employee health insurance costs represent a significant portion of Hamden’s municipal budget, and a growing burden to taxpayers; and

WHEREAS the Medicare for All Act of 2019 would provide federally funded health insurance for every person in the United States for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs; hospital, surgical and outpatient services; primary and preventive care; emergency services; reproductive care; dental and vision care; and long-term care; and

WHEREAS the Medicare for All Act of 2019 would provide coverage without copays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs to Hamden residents and municipal employees, without premium costs for the town government or other local employers; and

WHEREAS the Medicare for All Act of 2019 would provide the same benefits to retired Hamden employees, with savings in other post employment benefits (OPEB) for the municipal budget; and

WHEREAS, recent Kaiser Family Foundation polling shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans support a greater role for the federal government in providing health insurance and 56% of Americans support a national Medicare for All plan; and

WHEREAS, the quality of life for the residents of Hamden would vastly improve because they would be able to obtain necessary ongoing and preventive care, instead of being forced to make a choice between debt or death; and

WHEREAS, savings to the municipal budget would free up funds (as much as 19.6% of the proposed 2021 budget) for much-needed tax relief for Hamden residents and businesses; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 crisis in our community and across the country has demonstrated the need for a universal healthcare system in the United States;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hamden Democratic Town Committee enthusiastically supports the Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384 and S. 1129) and any other subsequent Medicare for All or single-payer legislation, and calls on our federal legislators to work toward its immediate enactment, assuring appropriate and efficient health care for all residents of the United States.

Fact sheet / citations

1. (“An estimated 27.5 million people, 8.5% of the population, went without health insurance in 2018. That was an increase of 1.9 million uninsured people, or 0.5 percentage point.”)
   “Number of Americans without Health Insurance Rises for 1st Time in a Decade.” NBC News, NBC, 10 Sept. 2019, www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/number-americans-without-health-insurance-rises-1st-time-decade-n1052016.
2. (“But nearly 187,000 Connecticut residents still lack coverage, a data point that is troubling state health officials. Low income families and people of color are more likely to be uninsured here, the figures show.”)
   “As Open Enrollment Approaches, Health Officials Use Census Data to Reach Uninsured.” The CT Mirror, 9 Jan. 2020, ctmirror.org/2019/10/29/as-open-enrollment-approaches-health-officials-use-census-data-to-reach-uninsured/.
3. (“Of people who were insured continuously throughout 2018, an estimated 44 million were underinsured because of high out-of-pocket costs and deductibles.”)
   Collins, Sara R. “Health Insurance Coverage Eight Years After the ACA: Commonwealth Fund.” Commonwealth Fund, 7 Feb. 2019, www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2019/feb/health-insurance-coverage-eight-years-after-aca.
4. (“the latest KFF tracking poll finds that a majority of Americans favor a national Medicare-for-all health plan (56%)”)
   Lopes, Lunna, et al. “KFF Health Tracking Poll – January 2020: Medicare-for-All, Public Option, Health Care Legislation And Court Actions.” The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 30 Jan. 2020, www.kff.org/health-reform/poll-finding/kff-health-tracking-poll-january-2020/.
5. (“Historically, our polls have shown support for the federal government doing more to help provide health insurance for more Americans.”)
   “Public Opinion on Single-Payer, National Health Plans, and Expanding Access to Medicare Coverage.” The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 3 Apr. 2020, www.kff.org/slideshow/public-opinion-on-single-payer-national-health-plans-and-expanding-access-to-medicare-coverage/.
6. (Hamden medical insurance municipal budget line: $46,077,500 – 18.66% of total)
   Town of Hamden, Connecticut – Mayor’s Recommended Budget, Fiscal Year 2020-2021. Town of Hamden, 6 Apr. 2020, www.hamden.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/192.